The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin
The Rt. Rev. Jerry A. Lamb, Bishop
The Rev. Canon Mark H. Hall, Canon to the Ordinary
July 10, 2008
To All Priests and Deacons in the Diocese of San Joaquin:
I will leave for the Lambeth conference on July 13, 2008. I am going to Lambeth as the Episcopal/Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin. I wanted you to have this letter in your hands before Lambeth. I hope you will keep a close watch on the Lambeth gathering and use this time to discern God’s will for you.
I have been the Episcopal Bishop of San Joaquin since March 29, 2008. I was confirmed by a meeting on that date of the Special Convention of the Diocese, in consultation with Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, following the deposition of John-David Schofield on March 12, 2008, on grounds that he abandoned the communion of the church
When you were ordained a deacon and again when you were ordained a priest, if you are a priest, you read aloud and signed the declaration as noted in the Book of Common Prayer pages 526-527, and 538-539. In that declaration you stated, “I do solemnly engage to conform to the doctrine, discipline and worship of the [Protestant] Episcopal Church [in the United States of America].
Your former bishop, John-David Schofield, was deposed because he attempted to lead the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin out of the Episcopal Church contrary to Constitutions and Canons of the Episcopal Church to which you have vowed to conform.
Being a deacon or priest in the Episcopal Church carries many duties, and it also carries many rights and privileges. The Episcopal Church is the only entity in the United States recognized as a Province of the Anglican Communion in communion with, and under the leadership of, Archbishop Rowan Williams. We have developed full communion agreements with Christian churches as the Episcopal Church in the United States. Clergy still in active stipendiary positions in the Episcopal Church have many benefits that come through the Church Pension Fund that only Episcopal institutions and Episcopal clergy enjoy.
We come to places in our lives when we are faced with a choice. It is time for you to make that decision as a member of the clergy of the Diocese of San Joaquin. Enclosed with this letter is a form with three choices, “(1) I want to remain a member of the clergy of the Episcopal Church the episcopal and adhere to my ordination vows; (2) I no longer wish to exercise my ordained ministry in of the Episcopal Church, and desire to be removed therefrom for reasons not affecting my moral character; or (3) I do not consider myself a clergy member of the of the Episcopal Church, nor do I believe I am obligated to conform to the doctrine, discipline, or worship of the Episcopal Church.” Please check the appropriate box and return it to my office by August 5, 2008.
It is my continued hope that each of you will choose the first option. I am aware, however, that for some of you this may not be the appropriate choice at this time, and I want you to know that the second option carries with it no stigma, and leaves open the possibility of a return to ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church without stringent canonical conditions.
I am committed to providing you every opportunity to communicate with me regarding these issues. As you know, you have been offered multiple opportunities to clarify your status with the Episcopal Church. We have invited you to the Special Convention, we have written personally to each of you, and we have invited you to personal conversations. This letter represents at least the fourth effort by my office to open and further such communications. It is important that we reach clarity so that we each may move forward. In that light, I ask that you please check the appropriate box and return the included form to my office by August 5, 2008.
I am willing and ready to speak to any clergy person regarding their relationship to the Episcopal Church. Please call me at 209-952-0006, e-mail to Jerrylamb@
diosanjoaquin.org, or write to me to set a time and place for a meeting.
Sincerely,
+Jerry A. Lamb
Bishop of San Joaquin
Please complete this form and return by Augusts 5, 2008. Check the appropriate box.
I want to remain a member of the clergy of the Episcopal Church and adhere to my
ordination vows.
I no longer wish to exercise my ordained ministry in of the Episcopal Church, and desire to be removed therefrom for reasons not affecting my moral character. (ref: Title III, Canon 7.8, for deacons and Title III, Canon 9.8, for priests.)
I do not consider myself a clergy member of the of the Episcopal Church, nor do
I believe I am obligated to conform to the doctrine, discipline, or worship of the Episcopal Church. (ref Title IV, Canon 10.1)
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